When Life Gives You Fins by Elaina H (classic books to read txt) 📖

ballroom. They were all looking at me! Well, now they’re going to be laughing at me.

            Oh! I am such a dork. A tear slips down my cheek, just a single tear. Hey! I’m human, and I’m very embarrassed.

            “Celia?” Adrianne calls.

            I stick a hand outside the stall so she can see me.

            “Oh, Celia! It’s all right,” she says as she sees me red-faced and crying – a little, “Most people didn’t even notice that you went to the bathroom. Trust me?”

            I nod my head, “It’s just that,” I sniffle, “I really wanted one perfect night! You know what I’m saying, right?” she nods, “And of course, it could have been if I didn’t have all that attention on me!”

            She clear her throat, “That’s partly my fault, the three of us – Me, Zak, and Destin – thought you would like to have a special mention. We honestly didn’t know you were this terrified of public recognitions, otherwise we wouldn’t have done it. I swear!”             “It’s not your fault, not at all,” Adrianne begins fixing my make up with a piece of seaweed.

            “You’ll be fine. You’ll go back out there, dance with Zak, make new friends, and have the best night yet! Got it?”

            “Yeah,” I sigh heavily as she finishes wiping away messed up make-up. Thankfully it doesn’t seem ruined, Mira would have killed me!

            “Let’s go!” she helps me up, “Look in the mirror, CJ.”             I look in the mirror and besides the red face. I don’t look too bad. My make-up is still gorgeous. An the dress looks even better than the day I tried it on. My hair looks so different, but I’m glad I cut it.

            I swivel back around to Adrianne, “Thank you!” I give her a really long hug.

            “Let’s get back out there! And let’s show them what us girls are made of!” she fist pumps the air and I laugh.

            “All right.”

            We open the door together, she goes and first and Josh is waiting for her. He spins her around and they go straight back to the dance floor.

            Zak stands there too, “I’m so sorry,” he starts.

            I hold up my hand, “Save your breath. It’s not your fault or anybody else. It’s just that I have a terrible fear of anything that has to do with a crowd, so that’s it,” I make eye contact with him.

            “Want to dance?” he’s trying to lighten the mood. Lucky for him, it works.

            “Why not?”

            He takes me back to the dance floor, and we begin to dance. A slower song comes on and Zak pulls me closer.

            He spins me around a few times. Zak leans in closer, he kisses me. I kiss him back, but he pulls away.

            Standing at our side is Wilma, she’s tapping on Zak’s fin to get his attention, “I believe you owe me a dance?” she says it with every ounce of confidence in her.

            “I believe he does,” I answer for him.

            Zak’s face says that he really doesn’t want to, “Promise is a promise,” I whisper to him.

            “Not the one who made the promise,” he says back.

            “Too bad,” I reply as I step away and Wilma takes his hands.

            Someone taps my shoulder, “You owe me a dance too, and if you don’t remember, don’t think about it,” standing behind me is Haden.

            “Hey,” I say wistfully.

            Haden grabs my hands, he spins me around the dance floor, crazily, “Hey,” he replies.

            “How have you been?” What I’m really asking is who are you with! Jennifer?

            “Same old same old. I came here tonight assuming I was still invited.”

            “I was assuming you were invited too.”

            “So, not much of a crowd person either?” he says it mockingly.

            “Not much, no. But I’m trying to forget it happened,” I say seriously.

            “I see,” he nods his head as he pulls me closer. We are friends, I beam it into his brain.

            But, apparently, it doesn’t work, “You know, you’re the prettiest girl in the room,” it’s his voice that scares me though, he changes it back to his usual voice, “But I do have to say, you surprised me with the new cut. Very edgy!”

            I smile and nod, this feels to awkward. To more than friends. The song ends and Haden dips me down. I wrinkle my nose hoping he get the hint, DO NOT KISS ME!

            I’m sure he saw Zak and I kiss.

            He brings me back up to standing position, “See you around.” He leaves me on the dance floor standing there. I’m sure you’re thinking the same thing I’m thinking, ‘What is that supposed to mean?’

            Zak comes over with Wilma tailing him, “What was that about?” he asks as he stares at the spot where Haden left.

            “I honestly don’t know.” I shake my head to clear it.

            “Can I have another dance?!” Wilma whines.

            Zak wants to say no, so I help him out, “My turn, sweety!”

            “Go dance with Destin! I’ll dance with Zak!” she pulls Zak back out to the dance floor for a more modern song.

            I sit at a table with Destin, he’s pouting, “What’s the matter?”

            He points at Wilma and Zak, “My date is obsessed with my brother!”

            I look at him, “Well, do something about it! Because I really want to dance!”

            “What am I supposed to do?”

            “Want to make her jealous? Come on!” I pull Destin to the dance floor. He laughs.

            “Trust me! You are not making Wilma jealous, but you are making all my friends jealous!”

            I shove him a little, “What you want me to dance with all of them?! No way!” I shake my head.

            “Please? They’ll all owe me big time! Or!” he screams, “I’ll make them pay! Jackpot!” he sings at an extremely high tone.

            “Fine! But I get 25% of the profit since the other 75% is going to be thrown at me!” I yell at him as he runs to his friends.

            I start dancing with each of the boys. Note to self: do not dance with thirteen year old boys! More than one with touch your butt!

            After I finished dancing with what felt like twenty boys, I’d been asked to eight dates, three marriages, and one kid asked me if I had a younger sister.

            Destin comes up to me, “I made $25.00! You get $6.25.” he hands me the money, I stare at it.

            “I didn’t really think you were going to charge all your friends!”

            “My friends? This was just for anyone who was going to pay!” I smack him on the head.

            “Jerk! Some of those kids were really weird!”

            “Not my problem!”

            Destin swims off counting his money. I stick mine down my shirt. Where else am I supposed to put it?!

            Zak comes up to me, “Can you explain why I just had six boys come up and ask if they could go on a date with you?”

            “Because, I felt bad saying no when they asked, so told them they’d have to ask my boyfriend,” I laugh at his facial expression.

            “Hey!” Haden is behind me again, “Just one question before I leave. Is there a reason why two boys asked me if they could go on dates with you?”

            Very awkward.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

           

           

 

 

 

           

 

 

 

 

The Ball: Part Two

 

            Zak’s full of mumbles after I told Haden I had no clue why. Of course I did know why, sadly, so did Zak.

            It’s 10:40, and the speakers come back on, “It’s midnight snack time! For all those who stuck around, you’ll be having a sweet treat!”

            Everyone gets into a line for the snack, Zak tells me to sit, and that he’ll get one for me.

            I sit down and Blondie swims up, and sits at the table, “Listen, you need to back down, Celia. This game is over because I won. Now, get that through your itty bitty brain and leave!

            Go to your class and go to your job, but stay away from Zak.”

            “You know what, Jennifer, I really don’t care what you have to say!” Jennifer’s pretty face is stunned. Jennifer is sitting right there, she’s really pretty, I just realize this. It’s a strange time to notice, but I do.

            “Now,” she says sweetly, “what are we going to do?”

            I struggle to come up with an answer. I think really hard, but Zak interrupts my thoughts, “Here,’ he hands me my midnight snack and I slowly come to realize what going on again.

            “Blondie, I mean Jennifer, leave. No one wants you here.” She’s taken back by the bitterness I my tone.

            She smiles her famous wicked smile, “Make me,” she raises her eyebrows. 

            “No problem,” I feel the water currents around the legs of her chair, I pull. Jennifer’s chair flips backwards immediately. She gasps as she hits the ground.

            “You jerk!”

            “Like I’ve told you, you get what you ask for,” I smile.

            “Stay away form me you, witch! Just stay away!” Blondie stumbles out of the ballroom her hair a jumbled mess.

            Zak’s upset, “You really shouldn’t do that in public, especially with Jennifer. You don’t want people to get curious,” he says sternly.

            “What! She’s been driving me insane since I got here, this was my one chance to tell her to ‘back off’. I took it, so don’t tell me that I did the wrong thing! Just leave it be!” I stand up and swim out the door leaving Zak sitting alone with my midnight snack.

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guilty Is Charged

 

            I head back to my room, exhausted. I fall face first onto my bed. I feel so guilty for being so mean. I was mean to Jennifer, but I was just being a jerk to Zak.

            I take off my dress and run my fingers through my hair. I take off my make-up and flop into my shell bed. Comfort!

            I roll over and fall asleep without closing the top.

 

            I wake up two hours later, it’s 1:00. I feel nauseas and guilty from what I said to Zak.

            I climb out of bed, and put on a blue robe. I swim over to and out the door. I follow the familiar route to Zak’s room.

            Taking a deep breath and knock on the door.

            I here a lock turn and the door opens, Zak stands there leaning against the door frame.

            “Does it help if I say, I’m sorry?” I look down at the floor, waiting for an answer.

            “Yeah,” he puts a finger under my chin, “I’m just worried about you, that’s all.” He smiles sweetly at me.

            I wrap my arms around is torso, and hug. He hugs me back, whispering in my ear.

            He pulls me into his room and sets me on his lap. I snuggle into his chest, and close my eyes.

            Easily, I fall asleep.

            I wake up disoriented, I have no clue where I am at first. Then I realize I’m lying on Zak’s bed, with Zak’s arms around me.

            I wiggle around so I can see the time, 8:43. Way too early, I can’t believe I stayed up till 11:00 last night.

            I wiggle out of Zak’s arms and stretch. I yawn and look at the time again, 8:44! Holy crap! I’m late! Class, I have class today.

            How could I forget? I look under my robe. At least I put my green seaweed top on. It’ll have to do.

            I set my robe on one of Zak’s many chairs and silently creep out of his room.

            As I head down the stairs I think whether or not it’s a good idea to show up almost two hours late.

            I’m going with the philosophy, better late than never.

            I knock on the door, “Come in!”

            “Hello, Sir, I’m sorry I’m so late. I accidently forgot to set my alarm.”

            “Don’t worry about it! I wasn’t expecting